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Lorna Sass

In many cultures dating as far back as the Middle Ages, crunchy, toothsome wheat berries have been sweetened and served for holiday celebrations. In Russia, poppy seeds, walnuts, and raisins are added for a dish called _kutya_. In Turkey, a similar dish is called _kofyas_, and in Greece it's known as _koliva_.
The combination of wheat, honey, and dates has survived so long because it is heavenly. Serve small portions as it's quite filling.

Chewy nubbin of farro give special appeal to a hearty Mediterranean vegetable-bean soup that's loaded with calcium-rich kale. If you don't have time to cook the beans from scratch, check out the Express Farro and Chickpea Soup variation.

When I tasted this sauce in Jerusalem a few years ago, I was reminded of how much I like the earthy taste of sesame tahini and the brightness of parsley—stems and all.
Whip up a batch and toss it with grains and chopped carrots for a colorful salad, blend it with cooked chickpeas for a quick sandwich filling, or spoon it over microwaved kale or steamed broccoli florets set on a bed of brown rice for an entreé.
The amount of garlic you'll need depends upon your taste. I like to start with two cloves and blend in more if needed—keeping in mind that the sauce's favor will be somewhat diluted when mixed with other ingredients.
Refrigerate for up to one week. Thin as needed with additional fresh lemon juice—or water, if you're out of lemon.

When it comes to flavoring, most recipes keep couscous firmly planted in the Mediterranean. But because of its mild flavor and versatility, couscous has tempted me to embark on taste adventures further afield.
In this visually striking salad, couscous is flecked with another easily prepared ingredient: arame, an elegant, jet-black mildly briny sea vegetable used in Japanese cooking. Arame is ready to eat after a brief soak in water. Asian seasonings integrate the couscous in a memorable way.
Use a food processor to chop the carrots and radishes while the couscous is steeping. Serve the salad on a bed of watercress, garnished with some cherry tomatoes or sliced kumquats.

In this remarkably tasty side-dish vegetable, instant stock powder provides a long-cooked depth of flavor in minutes. The rich creaminess of the white beans transforms frozen spinach into a healthful and delicious version of creamed spinach.
It's not just a side dish though: Use leftover "creamed" spinach as a sauce for pasta or grains (season a bit more heavily) or thin it with enough vegetable stotck to turn it into a soup.

Here's a tasty way to add excitement to your lunch bag. Stuff this flavor-packed mixture into pita with thinly sliced tomato and some lettuce or sprouts, and—if you're willing to offer tastes—be prepared for lunch-matets to ask for the recipe. Try to make this the night before, as it is even tastier after a sojourn in the refrigerator.

Black soybeans are a terrific stand-in for chickpeas in this robust hummus. Because of soybeans' nuttiness and creamy texture, no olive oil and very little tahini (sesame-seed paste) are required to give the dip its traditionally rich flavor. I like to give the hummus some heat by adding a bit of the North African hot pepper paste called _harissa._ You'll find _harissa_ and tahini at most international groceries; tahini is also available at health-food stores.
Serve the hummus in a small bowl, garnished with a sprinkling of sweet paprika and a scattering of oil-cured olives. Set a basket of pita triangles on the side.
I often double the recipe so I can make a lunch of hummus and thick strips of roasted red pepper stuffed into a pita pocket.